My sister is throwing me a baby shower and doesn’t want my SIL and Mother-In-Law to help because it was a disaster for my bridal shower, stress galore. So she wants to do it alone as a gift to me. I told Mother-In-Law and SIL that we appreciate them offering to help but pretty much everything is taken care of. So far my sister is almost done planning and we have friends that can’t wait to attend. I understand things wont’ be perfect. I don’t expect them to, but Mother-In-Law and SIL have much to say….how do I handle these remarks?

1. My Mother-In-Law commented the restaurant my sister picked for baby shower is a “hole in the wall, a dive”. (I don’t think it is) and it’s a banquet with beautiful chandeliers. My sister got a really good deal for the place.

2. My SIL said “I heard food was not good, I just like good food”. I personally had different foods there and it was good.

3. My SIL pointed out one mispelled word on baby shower invitation, was no big deal, you can’ t really notice because so much going on invitation plus it is soooo cute. MIL said, “well my daughter caught it because she’s got a masters degree, so she easily spots mispelled words, your sister made a boo boo”. But honestly no one even cares, or has mentioned it, invitations have been out for weeks.

4. My SIL asked me why I’m registered for expensive stuff on my registry. The stuff she has for her first child wasn’t that expensive. Without me asking, she’s constantly telling me what I should register. I just kindly nod my head to agree. Annoyed with her remarks on my choices.

Like I said, I understand things won’t be perfect. My sister is doing a great job, amost done. I have a feeling they will knit pick and poke fun at little things at shower. Everytime I see them, they both have something to say, criticize, point out. HOW DO I HANDLE? Help me prepare, they’re driving me nuts.

Ignore them. You can’t change how they act so you can only change how YOU react to them.

Sounds like you need to get a thicker skin when dealing with these people, and I hope it happens sooner rather than later since they’ll be in your lives a long time. Better yet…have your husband address it with them and how they act and ask them to plan their OWN shower for his side. There’s no reason both have to be included anyway.

These two will behave like this for the rest of your life. I also suggest you learn to ignore them. If you need a visual, picture a floor length veil over your entire body, through which none of their words can penetrate.